davis



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J I fi W. P. DAVIS.

Patent ed Mar. 5

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T E CHRIS PETE 5CD PHOTO-LT D \NlSHlNGYQ D C g v fir,

GENTERBOARD FOR SAILING VESSELS.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W, P. DAVIS. GENTERBOARD FOR SAILING VESSELS.

PM 62,614. Patented MZLII. 5, 1 867;

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WASHINGTON F. DAVIS, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. Letters Patent No. 62,6l4, dated llfm'cl 5, 186.7,

IMPROVED CENTRE-BOARD FOR SAILING VESSELS.

no ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

it known that I, WASHINGTON F. DAVIS, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain improvements in Centre-Boards for Sailing Vessels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in whichv Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section through my improved centre-board asapplied to a sailing vessel, all of the sections of-the centre board being lowered in a, position ready for use when sailing close to the wind. i v

' Figure 2 is a. transverse vertical section through the same on the line x 9: of fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the same representing all of the sections of the centre hoard lowered with the exception of the upper one.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section representing the centre-board raised into the position it occupies when not in use.

V Figure 5, detail to be referred to. I

The centre-board of the ordinary construction for sailing vessels is made in one piece, and when not in use is hoisted up within a trunk which necessarily occupies a space between decks equal in height to the depth of the centre-board. Much valuable stowage room is consequentlylo'st, and great inconvenience also arises from the fact that the hold is partially partitioned oil and'the opeifz'irea' to work in is thereby contracted. The object of my invention is to employ a centre-board of such. construction that will enable me to utilize the space thus previously occupied, and my invention consists in 'inaking the centre-board in two or more sections, so that they may either slide within or upon each other, in such manner that wheu notin use they may be comp'actly enclosed in a trunk .whose height is only about that of a single section.

-To enable others skilled in the art to understand 'and' use ul)" invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which it is carried out. I p

"In the said drawings, A represents the hold or space between the decks of a vessel; B the timber and planking; and C theshoe, running longitudinally under. the same. A centre-board, composed of a number of sections or strips, A B C D, of metal or other suitable material, is pivoted together at a, to a covered box or trunk, E, which extends any convenient distance alongthe centre of the hold, and passes up from the shoe C, which is open through tliis portion of its length to allow of the centre-board being lowered, the height of the trunk. being only suflicienttoallow the sections when -folded together to be snugly enclosed therein and lie flush with the bottom of the shoe. The lower section D is of a single thickness, while each of the upper three sections A B C is composedof side pieces I), connected by a lougitudin'al strip, c, forming within a hollow space equal to the width of the section next below, to allow of its sliding freely therein when required to be raised, as seen in fig. 4. All of the longitudinal strips 0 of the sections A B C, have holes, d, in their outer ends, and are provided with projections, e,-which, (as each section BCD. is lowered,) come in contact with stopsf, on the lower end of each side of the section-which encloses it, (see fig. 5.) The lower sections B. C D are raised and lowered in the following manner: One end of a chain, is secured to the upper end ofthe section I), and is led through the holes 01 of the sections B C D, up a'hollow portion, 9, of. the trunk to the deck, where it is secured to a 'pinor post, 7a, The upper section A is operated as follows: To the upper outer end of this section, at i, is secured a chain, G, which also passes upthe portion 9 ofthe trunk and is secured to a pin, it, in the deck when the section is hoisted up; while the amount of its fall or drop is determined by'the lengthof the chain G, which is provided with a cross-bar or handle, Z, at its upper end, which is drawn transversely across the top of the portion g, when this section is down,

Operation. I

A When the vessel is close hauled on the wind the whole depth of the centre-board is required, and after lowering the upper section' A, by paying out the chain G, the sections B C D are then lowered by letting out the chain F, the parts being in the position seen in figs. 1 and 2. When the wind is free, the upper section A need not be lowered, the three'sections B C"D only being required, as seen in fig. 3. When the water is shoal and it is required to raise the centre-boerd to allow of the passage of the vessel, it is simply necessary to haul up the sections and secure the chains FG in the manner above described, (see fig. 4.) Should the centre-hoard be downsnd suddenly come upona. shoa-l, the outer ends of the several sections will be instantly raised and no delay or difiiculty will he occasioned thereby. Eachof the sections may, if preferred, consist of :3. single thickness, and slide in or upon each other in a manner similurto the sections of a fan, but care shouldbe taken thatfew or no projections or angular ledges exist, so as to avoid producingzmy, unnecessary backwater. fihonld any difiiculty arise in lowering the centre-hoard on account of obstructions froni seaweed, 860., instead 'of the construotioh above shown, the chain F may bedispensed with ands series of jointed links or arms secured to the lower. outer ends of the sections, by which means they may be forced clown if required.

O'laim.

What I claim asmy invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- A centre-board composed of two or more sections A B C D, so arranged as to slide within or uponcach other, in a manner 'and for a purpose substantially as set forth. Q

W. F. DAVIS.

Witnesses: P. E. Tsscnnmncnsn, 'N. W. StrsARNst 

